The ever adaptable Andropogon virginicus is sweeping throughout fallow fields. They show off their fall colors this time of year as they shift from green to a reddish-purple. Glimmering silver in the sun, their seed heads begin to puff out, releasing into the breeze. They are aggressive colonizers, which is perfect for their naturalized habitats in old fallow fields and meadows. They’re tolerant of high salt, drought, and wet or dry soils, making them excellent for roadside habitats. As a C4 grass, Andropogon virginicus prefer full sun and can handle higher temperatures. They have a full spectrum of seasonal interest - providing a green background spring through summer, changing to a red-purple in the fall, and lastly, a delicate pale orange through winter. Andropogon virginicus is an essential provider of cover and nesting material for birds, like the bobwhite quail. Also, its seed provides winter food for song birds. Andropogon virginicus is also a host plant to the small but beautiful Zabulon Skipper butterfly.